John Smith (Labour Party leader)

John Smith ( * September 13 1938 in Ardrishaig ( Argyll and Bute ), † 12 May 1994, London ) was a British politician, Leader of the Labour Party was from July 1992 until his untimely death in May 1994.

Life

Smith was born in Scotland, visited in Dunoon school before he studied law at the University of Glasgow. During his time at the University he was the winner of the debate competition organized by the Observer. Until his election to parliament in 1970 as MP for North Lanarkshire, he worked as a lawyer.

While the Labour government time in the 1970s he steered the highly controversial devolution proposals for Scotland and Wales through the House. Between 1978 and the fall of the Labour government in 1979, he served as Minister of Commerce.

Despite his quiet, unassuming appearance and his politically moderate position, he was a witty, often biting speaker. In 1988, he suffered a heart attack during his time as shadow finance minister and then decreased strongly to reduce the risk of further problems. The surprising defeat Labour in the 1992 election was criticized as his mortgage, which nevertheless did not prevent that, he was elected to Neil Kinnock's successor as chairman.

During his short time as Leader of the Labour Party, he managed the block vote of the unions at party of the Labour Party, and replaced it by the principle of "one member, one vote ". During his tenure, Labour achieved a remarkable lead over the Conservatives. He put a future Labour government firmly on establishing a Scottish Parliament, which was implemented by his successor, Tony Blair.

His sudden and premature death as a result of a recent heart attack paved the hopeful Shadow Home Secretary Tony Blair the way. John Smith was buried in the holy island of Iona with a special permit. In honorific souvenir Labour named his party headquarters in Walworth Road in John Smith House.

Smith's death - even though he already has a serious heart attack suffered in 1988, which was considered to be completely overcome - caused an emotional shock that the public suffering corresponded to a lesser extent, followed the three years later taking place, unexpected death of Lady Diana. Partly as a result of these circumstances, a true discussion of Smith's policies and legacy in the years that followed was difficult. Since he received no top government official, the German media took only a very small extent knowledge of him.

Smith was a person of the traditional right wing of Labour and was also perceived by the Conservatives so. Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were during Smith's time as chairman restless and anxious that the party 's position " just one more effort " would occupy. They were over-cautious, " taxing and use " his legacy of attack.

Since Blair Smith's successor as party leader was, Smith was due to the contrast between Smith's traditional approach and Blair's leadership to "New Labour" an icon of the party left. The question of whether Smith Labour to a landslide election victory such as Blair could have led to further remains controversial.

After his death, the John Smith Memorial Trust was founded and managed along with the British Council and the Department for Constitutional Affairs, the John Smith Fellowship Program. The scholarship enables young leaders from abroad for an internship in British politics.

Briton
Politicians (Scotland )
Labour Member
Member of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)
Scotsman
Politicians ( 20th century)
Born in 1938
Died in 1994
Man

May 12 City of London George Brown, Baron George-Brown Integrated Authority File

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